Uganda juniors continue to struggle at the World Cup in Japan

Jun 20, 2019

Despite playing a five-over par 77 in the second round, Asaba, with a total of 150 gross over 36 holes is still Uganda’s best player at the tournament

Dennis Asaba remained Uganda's best player as the 2019 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup raged on at the Chukyo Golf Club Ishino Course in Nagoya.

Despite playing a five-over par 77 in the second round, Asaba, with a total of 150 gross over 36 holes is still Uganda's best player at the tournament though he is now six strokes over par having declined by four strokes in the second round.

Like in the first round, Asaba registered 9 pars in the second round, but bogeyed six holes and double-bogeyed the par-4, hole-number 14 to finish five over. He only managed two birdies compared to four in the first round.

"The strategy is to reach the greens early and make two easy putts. That was our plan today though some of us still failed," Asaba, said after the first round.

Team Captain Joel Basalaine who had promised a calm game after his first round 77 instead tumbled and carded ten strokes over, managing only one birdie on the par-5, hole-six. He got eight bogeys, two double bogeys and six pars and must now figure out another strategy having blamed his first round returns on ‘greed'.

Ibrahim Aliga's 82 counted for Uganda's second round score but him and Michael Alunga who returned 85 remain the only two players alongside Basalaine and Argentina's Vincente Marzilio who have shot over 80 in a single round. Aliga and Alunga consequently are last on the individual standings, just like Uganda in the overall leaderboard.

The Ugandans must now work a way of improving in the remaining two rounds in order to achieve their pre-tournament target of not finishing last.

The other African representatives South Africa have not disappointed and now lead the team standings on 407 strokes, one better than day-one leaders Spain.

Scores after Round 2

Dennis Asaba 73; 77 150

Joel Basalaine 77; 82 159

Ibrahim Aliga 83; 82 165

Michael Alunga 83; 85 168

Boys, Team Leader board

1. South Africa 208-199=407 (-19)

2. Spain 204-204=408 (-18)

3. Japan 208-205=413 (-13)

4. United States 208-207=415 (-11)

5. Thailand 216-203=419 (-7)

6. Sweden 213-207=420 (-6)

7. Argentina 210-212=422 (-4)

8. Colombia 217-206=423 (-3)

9. Philippines 216-209=425 (-1)

10. Australia 215-212=427 (+1)

11. Switzerland 214-216=430 (+4)

12. Canada 212-219=431 (+5)

13. Mexico 221-214=435 (+9)

14. Denmark 223-213=436 (+10)

15. Uganda 233-241=474 (+48)

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